I don't know what is up with me but I am feeling extra-Christmasy this year. Maybe motherhood has truly gotten to me, but I am just filled with holiday spirit and joy and I am doing my best to spread it everywhere. I have bought toys for tots, donated to the food bank, contributed to St. Jude's, pretty much done everything shy of sitting on Santa's lap myself to thank him for such a great year. Not that I don't normally enjoy Christmas, I do, it's just that I typically don't want to hear Christmas music until I go to mass on Christmas Eve, so being exposed to it for hours on end while running errands usually makes me want to poke my eyes out with a stick.

However, yesterday I found myself humming along in the middle of Walgreens and anyone who knows me can tell you how un-Heather-like that type of behavior is. I was shocked myself when I realized what was happening. I suppose I just feel so lucky to have a happy, healthy baby and a husband who puts gas in my car so I don't have to stand out in the cold and do it myself. Really lucky. So if you catch me humming some Bing Crosby in the next couple of weeks, no I haven't lost my mind. I am just so disgustingly happy it slips out before I even realize it. I will try and contain myself but this year I can't make any promises.

This weekend we are hosting my sister Becky, my brother Matt and his wife Caroline and Caroline's brother Wally for Thanksgiving. We have already told Wally that from now on he'll be referred to as brother-in-law because otherwise it gets too complex to explain and he kind of is one anyway right?

Becky and I started the day out with a 5 mile race that Kathleen and Amy also ran. It was pretty hilly so we definitely earned our dinner! Unfortunately the fried turkey didn't fry all the way through so we had to finish it off in the oven and it wasn't ready to eat until about 5pm. So dinner came later than expected but it was good, which probably has more to do with the beer and sangria we used to entertain ourselves while it was cooking than the actual quality of the food.

Luke is enjoying all of the extra attention he's getting this weekend from our guests and had a great first Thanksgiving Day. We gave him a bite of mashed potatoes that to Jay's great dismay he wholeheartedly rejected. He made the most disgusted of faces, an expression that said: What is this flavorless mush you are trying to force feed me? As if!

Jay, Matt and Luke just went out to brave the Walmart black Friday sales. I am happily resting at home in my warm bed with my coffee, trying to avoid the holiday crazies. Caroline and I may venture out later in the day when those 3amers are safely out of the way though.

Happy Black Friday everyone! :)

Luke modeling his indian headdress project from daycare:

Hanging with Mommy while waiting for the turkey to finish cooking:

Luke finally let Uncle Wally hold him--he was scared of the beard at first but now seems to be enthralled by it:

Uncle Matt didn't even make it as long as Luke did last night. He promptly fell asleep after dinner on the floor around 6pm. Roux took total advantage of having a new cuddle buddy!

People that get up to go to the bathroom on the airplane after they just made an announcement that you should stay in your seat. And also people that get up to get in line for the airplane bathroom when there are already like 10 people blocking the aisle. The bathroom isn't going anywhere people, can you wait 5 minutes?

People who cut in front of you either while walking or driving, only to go slow. If you are not in a hurry, then why did you have to cut in front of me?

People who don't pick up after their dog in public.

Waking up like 30 minutes before your alarm. I can never fall back asleep and enjoy those last few minutes.

My husband requested a holiday wish list from me the other day and it got me to thinking, as I could offer nothing I truly wanted or needed off the top of my head (apart from a shiny new ipod to replace the one that went missing this summer). A few items began to occur to me this week and let's just say I feel super lame about even putting most of them out here:

New kitchen scissors. Yes, I said it.

Dish towels for the kitchen that are pretty, neutral and not stained.

Hand towels for the guest baths that are also pretty, neutral and not stained.

There are actually a couple of fun items like Wii games on my amazon list which I am too lazy to list here. But as you can see, I have the list of a Mom. Not someone else's Mom either, this is all me...when did I get this old?

So I bounced back into racing by doing back-to-back 5Ks two weekends in a row. This weekend was the Hollyfest 5K, which started about half a mile from my house. And that was a good thing, because I took my first post-baby muscle conditioning class at the gym Friday, which admittedly wasn't my best ever idea. Considering I could hardly walk down the stairs in my own house from the pain in my quads Saturday morning, I didn't have the motivation to go very far! My sister was in town though and ready to run so we headed down the street bright and early to register. Around mile marker one Becky started asking if my legs felt better yet, to which I replied, Hell No! The burning! But we made it through the hills and eventually to the finish and I came in only about a minute slower than my previous race. Not too bad when you factor in the intense firey pain in my legs for the entire course!

My official cheering squad Jay and Luke came out again. Luke was all dressed up in his Halloween gear as you can see below. It was a great day, butI've already decided I'll be taking this weekend off!

I ran my first 5K of 2009 on Sunday afternoon, the Monster Dash, which took place in Cameron Village. It was chilly and overcast which made it a great afternoon for a run. Kathleen, Bill and Nolan also came out to the event. Kathleen ran in the 1 mile fun run, pushing Nolan in the jogger like a champion, and Bill ran the 5K and won 1st place in his age group--go Bill! I was just happy to complete the 5K standing and came in at a respectable 32 minutes, considerably faster than the 12 minute training miles I have been running lately.

Of course, it helped to know the cutest cheerer on the block was waiting for me. Jay is training Luke well in the art of cheering. I just love turning the last corner to find them yelling my name and encouraging me (well, Luke isn't exactly yelling yet but you get my point)! But they weren't the only cheerers on deck Sunday. Amy came out to support us all, and my friend and former coworker Ashely stood out in the cold as well, since her place was right around the corner from the race start. Thanks to all of my cheerers, I couldn't have done it without you!

Well, today is my official start date, so little man is over at daycare having his first day of school! Luckily I don't travel for training until next week now, so I am right around the corner from him for his first week. He seemed quite content when we left him this morning. Hopefully he'll have a good day. As for me, I have no computer or phone for work yet, so today will be interesting. At least I should be able to go get Luke early this afternoon. This is my first day alone in the house since he's been born, which is strange, but the dogs are here to keep me company!

It has been a big couple of weeks around our house. Nana Judy has been visiting and got to witness many firsts with Luke while she was here.

He had his first rice cereal about 2 weeks ago. So far he is a pretty good eater!

Jay and I also had our first trip away together since Luke was born. Nana watched him for us while we snuck away to Charleston for our 3rd anniversary. We missed him like crazy but he and Nana had so much fun while we were gone!

Luke also had his first giggle sometime last week. It has happened since but I haven't been able to capture it on film just yet. I will be sure to post a video clip when I do! There is just nothing better than a baby giggle.

One more first is coming up next week that I am not looking forward to. First day at daycare! I have accepted a full-time position that starts Monday and I will be in Arizona for the week for training. Wish me luck, it won't be easy to leave my sweet little boy, but I know his Daddy will take good care of him while I am gone!

Last week Luke and I had the chance to catch up with my old MMC buddies, Lora and Sally and their new babies, Ryan (Lora's little boy), and Sydney, Abby & Maya (Sally's girls). We met up at Pullen Park and had a nice walk around the lake and then hung out in the sand while Ryan and the girls did some swinging and then everyone enjoyed a nice bottle. Well, everyone except for me, Sally and Lora. It was a bit early for us! It was great to see my friends and catch up with them. We'll have to do it again soon!

I love these pictures of Luke in his bumbo seat. He looks like I caught him doing something he's not supposed to. "Oh Mom, sorry about sitting up in my bumbo like a big boy. You weren't supposed to see this!"

Luke and I joined Courtney, Greg and Avery at the Bikes, Boogie and BBQ festival in Gastonia last weekend. Greg and his team, "Smokin' Hot Butts & Racks" entered the competition in all four categories: chicken, ribs, pulled pork and brisket. It was their second competition and unfortunately they didn't place, although their brisket was the best I've ever tasted! Despite the loss, the festival was a lot of fun and there was plenty of good people watching to be had. Luke had a great time sitting up in his stroller like a big boy and even took a 1 hour nap in the middle of the live music, generators and fans, so Mama got to relax enjoy some cold adult beverages. It was a great day!

So Jillian Michaels has been kicking my ass with her 30 Day Shred dvd for about a month now and while I still have a love/hate relationship with her, I am starting to see some results. My cardio level is up considerably from Day 1, when 30 seconds of jumping jacks nearly had me passed out on the floor, and I have even lost a couple of pounds. Yay!

And it must really be working because the other day when I was out walking Luke, a delivery truck driver honked at me. Yes, at me! haha I thought for a while there that I had lost my touch, but it looks like Mama's still got it. That and a sweet farmer's tan from all those lunchtime walks we've been taking. Go on, you know you're jealous!

So thanks Jillian, even though I'd rather post this picture of you on my dartboard, I give your workout two thumbs up!

On Sunday we got to take Luke to his first baseball game! Our friends Derek and Kristy invited us to join them for a Durham Bulls game and since babies are free at the DBAP we decided to go for it. I will say the journey got off to a rough start because Luke screamed the entire way to the park, all the way down I40, the Durham Freeway and even through the parking deck. Jay and I began to think this was a bad idea, but no sooner than we crossed the street from the deck to the stadium, it was all smiles and love and rainbows again for Luke and he shocked us all by staying in a happy mood for the entire 9 innings.

My hopes were high that he would sleep all the way home since he had been so happy and active and awake for 3 hours at the game, but no dice. He decided to treat us to another cacophony of shrieks and wails all the way home. Joy. I even had to hop out at a stop light and jump in the back with him just to make it stop...for about 5 seconds.

Needless to say, once we got him home and fed him he passed out like a rock star and stayed asleep until 7am the next morning. Yay! Just long enough for me to forgive him. But at least if he was going to meltdown he did it for us and not our lovely friends with their lovely free front row seats. It was a great game apart from the Bull's loss. Thanks again Kristy and Derek!!

The seats really were awesome. We were seriously thisclose to the field! It was great--although it made the foul ball situation a little too exciting for us at times. But we managed to escape unscathed!

Dear Luke-I just counted and you are 71 days old now--I can hardly believe it. I have been meaning to write this letter to you since you were born, but you have had other plans for me that do not include free time! Of course when I do have free time, there are plenty of other things I'd rather be doing, like watching you suck on your fingers or stare at your feet, which you recently discovered and find completely fascinating. I could spend every day watching you watch the world around you. You have changed my life so fully and completely I can't remember the way things were before you and I don't even want to try. It feels like you've been here the whole time. Your Daddy and I love you more than we ever could have imagined and we are still in awe that we brought you into the world. Did we really create this beautiful and amazing little person? It baffles us.

Since you came into our lives we watch you like you are our new tv. The funny expressions you make, every little gurgle or coo, we can't imagine anything more cute or perfect and could just stare at you for days. I find myself doing things for you that I never imagined doing for another human being before. I have never before kept a poop journal, never placed my hand on someone's chest in the middle of the night to make sure they were still breathing, and certainly never wiped someone else's bottom for them...oh how that has changed! But then you have this way of looking up at me with your big blue eyes, laying your perfect little head on my shoulder, or reaching out to gently grasp one of my fingers, and in those moments I realize I would do anything in the world for you, my little angel.

Every morning I wake up and realize I have fallen in love with you just a little bit more, and it is the best feeling in the world. My love for you is so great that even when you wake me up at 5am I feel like I could stay up all day long, with no coffee, and that is saying a lot. I can't wait to start every day with you, to see what new cool thing you are going to learn that day. On Sunday you rolled all the way over from your back to your belly by yourself and I thought I would just burst with pride for how strong and smart you are. Just wait until you can roll back the other way, I swear I won't know what do with myself!

I can't wait to show you the world little one. You are so eager to take it all in. And the world better watch out, because baby, you are so awesome the world won't know what hit it.

I used to love all my Get In Shape Girl gear, especially my ribbon wand, although I didn't twirl it nearly as well as Will Ferrell. I just began my post baby workout regime this week so my mind wandered back to these toys for some reason...guess my fitness obsession started at an early age!

I began with a run on Sunday with Jamie and how sad, I only made it a mile before I had to stop and walk. I suppose that's not SO awful, considering it was already 90 degrees out and it was my first serious attempt at running in about 6 months, but man, it is hard to believe this time last year I was training for a half marathon.

I followed up on Monday with the 30 Day Shred dvd and did that again today, and Jillian Michaels is totally kicking my ass this week. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus yesterday when I woke up and I can't decide if I love Jillian or hate her. Either way, it is nice to be back in the swing of things. Hopefully I can fit into some pants with a real waist soon...what a goal!

Well, poop on me that is, and Jay...lots of it! It seems like Luke's new favorite trick is to poop on us. It started this weekend when Jay was changing one of Luke's diapers on the pack and play downstairs. He had quite audibly filled his diaper during a nap and when he woke up Jay grabbed him for a quick change. Unfortunately he wasn't finished because when Jay had his little legs lifted up to slide the fresh diaper in, Luke projectile pooped all over the front of Jay's t-shirt! (Thank goodness for lazy Sundays b/c we were still in our pjs) Two months of diaper changes and we've never seen anything like this. Apparently it just shot straight out, none of it even managed to hit the floor. At least he was considerate enough to get it all in one spot. I missed this as I was in the downstairs bathroom where I could hear Jay exclaiming "Dude, are you serious?"

The pooping continued on Tuesday night when Luke ripped one while sitting in my lap and it leaked out all over me in front of my lovely book club friends in the middle of Starbucks. Yeah, it was awesome. I think I really frightened some of the girls there who don't have kids yet. Luckily I had a wardrobe change for him in my diaper bag, but not one for me. So I cleaned myself up with a wet wipe and got back down to the book discussion. Hey--I don't get out much these days and I sure as hell wasn't letting my coffee go to waste!

I thought it was just peeing you had to worry about with little boys. Man, was I wrong! For all my friends withchild...be warned, this could soon be you!

Luke was invited down to Pawley's Island, SC for 4th of July weekend to stay with Courtney, Greg, Avery and Courtney's parents at their cabin rental, and since Jay and I are his chaperones we were lucky enough to get to tag along! It was great spending time with Greg, Court and Avery and we are so thankful to Berry and Susan for having us. We had a blast! Courtney's great Aunt Pat and great Uncle Don were also at the cabin and Jay and I thought they were truly "great" to hang out with!

Many rounds of cornhole were played, much seafood was consumed and we drank lots of Mich Ultra Cactus Lime beer, which is my new favorite thing for summer!

As you can see from the above picture, Luke found the beach very relaxing. Here are some other pics to sum up the trip:

Lunch date with Greg, Court and Avery at Big Tuna, on the Georgetown waterfront:

Fred the alligator, who lives near the Big Tuna:

Avery trying to get ahold of Court's frosty margarita:

After lunch we took Luke for his first day at the beach:

We tested out his sunglasses but decided he is still slightly too wee for them. We call this his Stevie Wonder look:

Luke also found the hammock very relaxing:I think Avery tipped him off on it:

Aunt Pat (aka "The Original Baby Whisperer") holding Luke and Susan (aka "Meme") holding Avery:Sunset in Georgetown on our last night at the beach: